Democracy Derailed: A Breakdown of Government Accountability in Alberta--And How to Get It Back on Track - Softcover

Taft, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 088995397X ISBN 13: 9780889953970

Publisher: Red Deer Press, 2007

Synopsis

OVER 7000 copies have sold in 8 weeks

Alberta's long-standing Progressive Conservative government has transformed Alberta into a virtual one-party province on its claims of openness, transparency and accountability.

Democracy Derailed goes deep into the machinery of government to reveal how the Tories have methodically maintained their grip on power by dodging accountability, manipulating public opinion and stifling dissent both inside and outside of government. In doing so, the Tories have undermined the very foundation of democracy: government must be accountable to the people it is elected to serve. In this ground-breaking, first-person account, Kevin Taft exposes how Alberta's Tories derailed democracy and gives his prescription for putting it back on track.

Visit www.democracyderailed.ca to see the web site set up for the book and and allows you to explore further into the issues it raises.

About this title

About the Author

Since 2001, Kevin Taft has taken on the Conservatives in the legislature, first as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and since 2004 as Leader of the Alberta Liberals. Democracy Derailed is the latest evidence that he isn't about to let up.

Review

"It's highly readable with numerous anecdotes from legislature sessions and committee meetings. . . The book has an anecdotal style that should make it of interest to politicos of any stripe."
-- St. Albert Gazette

"Going beyond merely identifying these many and varied problems with government, Taft goes a step further and actually offers solutions. . . In a province with a one-sided, Tory-friendly media, this book comes as a welcome alternative."
-- Cold Lake Sun

"Required reading for Albertans, for Canadians, or for anyone who wishes to see how a modern democracy can devolve into a one-party state. The handy, portable Democracy Derailed packs a lot of dissent into its 112 well-designed, reader-friendly pages. . . Sure, for the $10 cover price, you could buy two memberships to the Conservative Party. Make the sacrifice, though - for just a sawbuck, it's quite a read."
-- See Magazine

"If Albertans care enough to tune in, they will find in Taft's thin volume evidence enough to shake them from their collective stupor."
-- Jeremy Klaszus, Tyee Books

"Democracy Derailed is a book that should be required reading for anyone wanting to cast a vote in Alberta."
-- Russ Prusakowski, Columnist, The Gateway, University of Alberta

"This is an important and vital book that every Albertan should read."
-- Todd Babiak, Author and Edmonton Journal Columnist

". . . disturbing. If someone from another province were to read this book, they would simply be aghast that this can go on in the 21st century in a Canadian province."
-- Keith Brownsey, Mt. Royal College Political Science Professor

Edition details

• Publisher: Red Deer Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 088995397X
• ISBN 13: 9780889953970
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 112